Search efforts are underway on Georgian Bay after an abandoned watercraft was discovered on Monday afternoon.

Members of the Canadian Coast Guard, the OPP and military members out of CFB Trenton are searching an area around Beausoleil Island for a missing 56-year-old man.

An underwater search and rescue team is also taking part in the search by utilizing side sonar.

The vessel was spotted between Beausoleil Island and Present Island at around 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Crews launched a search, but had to call it off after nightfall.

“The marine unit located the boat, which was adrift. Unfortunately there was no operator in the boat or in the vicinity of the boat so they commenced a search of the surrounding area,” says Southern Georgian Bay OPP Sgt. Joe Pileggi.

Cottagers are being asked to search along the shore line for anything that could help investigators in their search.